British Council Logo UK Films Database
Project Detail

Punch Drunk: The Life and Death of a Belfast Boxer

Eamonn MAgee

Synopsis

Belfast breeds fighters. But none like Eamonn Magee. Born in 1971 as the city exploded into violence, Eamonn’s life was forged in the flames of ‘the Troubles.’ Raised amid bombings, riots, and sectarian hatred, he joined the IRA youth wing as a teenager - wielding petrol bombs by day and boxing gloves by night. Attacked, shot, stabbed, and left for dead more than once, survival became his first fight. Despite a chaotic double life of street warfare and addiction, Eamonn’s talent in the ring propelled him to the top. He became a world welterweight champion - “The Miracle Man” who defied the odds. But the demons that haunted him never left. A brutal beating in a high-speed car chase shattered his leg, but not his will. He returned to defend his title in one of sport’s most astonishing comebacks. Redemption seemed possible when his son, Eamonn Jr., emerged as a clean-living, gifted boxer. But when Junior was murdered in a senseless attack, Eamonn spiralled into despair. Now, with doctors warning he has months to live, he's a man tormented by memory, addiction, and violence.

Details

Year
2025
Type of film
Features
Running time
101 min
Director
Andy Wells
Producer
Caj Sohal
Editor
Pawel Slawek
Director of Photography
Justin Evans
Sound
Lee Willis
Composer
Matt Hooper
Principal cast
With contributions from: The Magee Family, Ricky Hatton, Steve Bunce
Photography
Aidan Woodward
Music Supervisor
Kle Savidge
Assistant Producer
Ally McKenzie

Genre

Biography Northern Irish Sport

Categories

Documentary

Production Status

Post-production

Production Company

Tenmonkeys Limited

Caj Sohal
Braybrooke House
Aylesbury Road
Tring
HP23 4DH

Sales Company

Tenmonkeys Limited

Caj Sohal
Braybrooke House
Aylesbury Road
Tring
HP23 4DH

Page updates

This page was last updated on 15th July 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

Suggest amendments

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Spacewoman Spacewoman

Director: Hannah Berryman

Year: 2024

A landmark feature documentary about astronaut Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot and command the Space Shuttle. Eileen’s incredible journey starts with her smalltown beginnings, sees her smash through many glass ceilings, and culminates in four dramatic space shuttle missions, the last being possibly the most dangerous and most important of them all. At its heart the film is the moving human drama of one family, where a mother’s extraordinary career takes us straight to the big philosophical question of what is the level of acceptable risk in human endeavour? This film celebrates Commander Collins’ trailblazing NASA career which opened the way for women to become spacecraft pilots and commanders, and proved a perfect riposte to a previous generation of male astronauts who thought there was no place for women to lead the way in space. Official Selection DOC NYC 2024 - World premiere Official Selection CPH:DOX 2025 - European premiere

Woman Director
You Can Call Me Lou You Can Call Me Lou

Director: Georgia Zeta Gkoka

Year: 2025

A personal and transformative story of Louise, an ex-dancer who transitioned in the 1980s. A former member of a dance group called Pyramid Dancers, Louise was part of the legendary London club scene during its most iconic era of the 80s and 90s. Through rare archival footage and Super8mm film, the documentary transports us back to those electric nights, offering an intimate look at how those years shaped Louise's identity and how her love for dance fuelled her journey towards self-acceptance and authenticity. Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2025

Biography Dance LGBTQIA+ Woman Director
A manuscript with blue flowers Daria’s Night Flowers

Director: Maryam Tafakory

Year: 2025

Daria has written her first manuscript about falling in love with a mysterious girl called ‘abi’ [blue]. The night flowers in her garden hide the secrets of a country that has turned love stories into routine crime scenes. Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2025 Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2025

Drama Experimental Human Rights LGBTQIA+ Woman Director